Josh wrote: >>>>>>Matt, do you know what specific model of Snapdragon neoprene spraydeck he was using? Sure seems like it did the job well! I'd really like to know because I'm getting a Romany and I love to surf, but I've had the worst luck with the skirts available here. If you don't know, please pass on his e-mail. Also, what is an implosion bar?<<<<<<<< Try tightening the shock cord that goes around the cockpit rim. Be sure and loosen it again if the spraydeck may be used by novices later. Call Rich at Snapdragon (425)957-3575. I'm sure he could tell you (and make you one just like it). He was one of Chris's sponsors. Chris told me he did the whole trip with the one spraydeck so it held up well. An implosion bar is a bar that is inside a closed pocket across the front of the deck. Its ends rest on either side of the cockpit rim about 1/2 way from your belly to the front of the cockpit. It helps prevent the deck from being forced into the cockpit enough by a breaker to pull the shock cord off the coaming rim. I have thought of (but never tried) putting a plastic or aluminum plate that fits around the front of the cockpit rim and supports the spraydeck against implosion. It would become a hard plate filling in the front of the cockpit area. It would essentially convert a large cockpit into a small cockpit. At least until you release the font of the spraydeck and then pushed it forward or lift it off the rim to remove it. Maybe a knee tube could be built into this "Ocean Cockpit Conversion" device too. Just think Doug, all the benefits of a small cockpit for those who think they need it, but few of the disadvantages. I just got a Sony DSC-P1 but haven't yet ordered the waterproof housing. Haven't had much time to play with it yet though. Any ideas on who has the housings available (and at the best price)? I have had a Pentax WR90 for a few years now (and like it a little better than the WR105's I've seen). I usually also carry a SLR with a 28 to 200 Zoom and a 19mm wide angle lens as well as a standard 50mm f1.4 lens for dim light conditions. The interesting thing is that when culling the slides I'm willing to show from the ones I don't want anyone to see I have been getting significantly less rejects with the WR90 than the SLR. This is true even on trips that have nothing to do with kayaking. Maybe the SLR is just too complicated for me and the simpler to use WR90 does a better job automatically than I can do with the SLR. A better photographer might reverse these results. Maybe the greater choices offered by the SLR give me more chances to screw things up. One thing I have a lot more of now is pictures of paddling in rough water. I keep the WR90 tucked into my left PFD pocket (that conveniently has a solid nylon section in front of the lens which seems to protect the lens from water droplets). in conditions I wouldn't think of popping my spraydeck much less digging out the SLR from the protection of the Drybag/Paddlefloat I store it in (usually kept between my knees). With the pentax WR90 I grab the camera with my right hand, hold it up to my eye and try to hold it level while I take a picture. I got some good shots of other kayakers in the waves by shooting from the hip to get a lower angle shot. The waves in the photos rarely look as big as they were but before I only got photos of relatively calm seas. I even took some photos while surfing some small spilling surf. Remember the photo in the Dec. 1999 issue of Sea Kayaker with the Guy surfing straight at you. It should have been me. I was just behind the wave waiting my turn to try to run down the photographer. Some guys get all the luck. Matt Broze http://www.marinerkayaks.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > I just got a Sony DSC-P1 but haven't yet ordered the waterproof housing. > Haven't had much time to play with it yet though. Any ideas on who has the > housings available (and at the best price)? Really fine little camera. I had to decide between that and my s100 canon (price was not a factor due to the generosity of my wife), but vied for the canon only for it's slightly smaller size and faster shutter response, both very important to me. NOt only do you get a far larger image, but the waterproof case is useful to greater depths and your optical zoom is longer as you seem to find zoom useful. If you are in a hurry, I can find you a waterproof case pretty easily on the net. If you are a bit patient, I will ask on a newsgroup as to the cheapest one around. I have had a Pentax WR90 for a > few years now (and like it a little better than the WR105's I've seen). I > usually also carry a SLR with a 28 to 200 Zoom and a 19mm wide angle lens as > well as a standard 50mm f1.4 lens for dim light conditions. The interesting > thing is that when culling the slides I'm willing to show from the ones I > don't want anyone to see I have been getting significantly less rejects with > the WR90 than the SLR. This is true even on trips that have nothing to do > with kayaking. Maybe the SLR is just too complicated for me and the simpler > to use WR90 does a better job automatically than I can do with the SLR. A > better photographer might reverse these results. Maybe the greater choices > offered by the SLR give me more chances to screw things up. Maybe, but for the way you are shooting (illustrated below) the Minolta is far more appropriate. The single hand approach requires the balance that a long lens will not afford. the electronic shutter is probably a help as well. > One thing I have a lot more of now is pictures of paddling in rough water. I > keep the WR90 tucked into my left PFD pocket (that conveniently has a solid > nylon section in front of the lens which seems to protect the lens from > water droplets). in conditions I wouldn't think of popping my spraydeck much > less digging out the SLR from the protection of the Drybag/Paddlefloat I > store it in (usually kept between my knees). With the pentax WR90 I grab the > camera with my right hand, hold it up to my eye and try to hold it level > while I take a picture. I got some good shots of other kayakers in the waves > by shooting from the hip to get a lower angle shot. The waves in the photos > rarely look as big as they were but before I only got photos of relatively > calm seas. I even took some photos while surfing some small spilling surf. > Remember the photo in the Dec. 1999 issue of Sea Kayaker with the Guy > surfing straight at you. It should have been me. I was just behind the wave > waiting my turn to try to run down the photographer. Some guys get all the > luck. Except for camera shy people like me. -- Gabriel L Romeu http://studiofurniture.com İİİİİ furniture from the workshop http://studiofurniture.com/diary İİİİİ life as a tourist, daily journal http://studiofurniture.com/paint İİİİİ paintings, photographs, etchings, objects *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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